Sanitary scoop

ABSTRACT

A convenient, disposable, waterproof scoop for use by dog owners to capture canine defecation is disclosed. The scoop folds flat so that it can be carried in a pocket or purse and unfolds to a generally U-shaped configuration presenting opposing planar flap members which come together under and against the excrement to scrape it from the ground. Hand pressure pivots the flaps together to confine the excrement therein with a combined scraping and drawing action. The scoop folds back to its initial configuration or a complement thereof. The scoop may be provided with thin, flexible, waterproof end closure members that fold upon themselves. The planar flap members of the scoop can be provided with biasing hinges and may include locking means to hold the scoop and its contents in a totally enclosing configuration for subsequent disposal. An outer carrying sheath or envelope is disclosed having a three-sided configuration, one side of which collapses to contain the folded scoop both before and after use. The outer sheath can have a fastening or locking means to keep the combination closed in an essentially flat configuration before or after use. The envelope may also have thin foldable end closures which interengage or twist upon themselves to complete the sanitary containment of the excrement.

'United States Patent [1 1 Grattan Nov. 4, 1975 SANITARY SCOOP [76] Inventor: Donald J. Grattan, 5929 N.

Artesian, Chicago, 111. 60645 [22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 341,358

[52] US. Cl 294/1 R; 15/1048; l5/257.1;

206/527; 294/55 [51] Int. Cl. A47L 13/52 [58] Field of Search 294/1 R, 25, 49, 55;

Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant ExaminerJohnny D. Cherry Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bruce K. Thomas 57 ABSTRACT A convenient, disposable, waterproof scoop for use by dog owners to capture canine defecation is disclosed. The scoop folds flat so that it can be carried in a pocket or purse and unfolds to a generally U-shaped configuration presenting opposing planar flap members which come together under and against the excrement to scrape it from the ground. Hand pressure pivots the flaps together to confine the excrement therein with a combined scraping and drawing action. The scoop folds back to its initial configuration or a complement thereof. The scoop may be provided with thin, flexible, waterproof end closure members that fold upon themselves. The planar flap members of the scoop can be provided with biasing hinges and may include locking means to hold the scoop and its contents in a totally enclosing configuration for subsequent disposal. An outer carrying sheath or envelope is disclosed having a three-sided configuration, one side of which collapses to contain the folded scoop both before and after use. The outer sheath can have a fastening or locking means to keep the combination closed in an essentially flat configuration before or after use. The envelope may also have thin foldable end closures which interengage or twist upon themselves to complete the sanitary containment of the excrement.

7 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures In" M US. Patant Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 SANITARY SCOOP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A number of dog refuse packages are known in the prior art. Some, such as that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,358,647, are of the folding typeand include an outer container with a separate flat scoop that must be crimped or bent into the proper shape before it is used to move the excrement into the container. Following this the scoop is also shoved into the container and the package is rolled into a tubular form and affixed with a rubber band, or pressure sensitive tape. The original fold lines of the package are not used in the completion of the pick-up operation and the scoop must be separately formed before use. Still other containers of this kind are complicated and employ a handle and scoop arrangement much like a dust pan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention has as its objective an excrement scoop and outer container therefor which is simple to manufacture from cardboard, plastic, recycled paper, or the like, wherein the parts initially fold together 'as a flat rectangular package that is easily carried in the pocket or purse. Upon release of the fastener, the package springs open and unfolds the end closures so that the scoop is ready for immediate use and the excrement can be captured with one squeezing movement of the scoop which thereupon folds back into its original substantially flat form for insertion into the outer container. The primary consideration is to provide a pet refuse package which unfolds into a configuration that is convenient and natural to use and then folds up into a compact form, which whether flat or triangular in cross-section, still fits easily into the outer container for subsequent disposal. This is accomplished by providing a coordinated, multisided outer container with one side formed so as to be collapsible and a scoop having a number of walls, preferably three or four, which are hinged edge-to-edge in a manner that theyare biased to the open position. In the open configuration of the scoop, the parts are oriented so as to fit the hand in an external grip whereby the excrement engaging edges are readily brought together in a sliding action that contains the excrement completely within the scoop. Finally, the scoop parts cooperate so that the scoop alone or while it is in the package can be compressed and formed into a compact package. The entire operation is a simple unfolding, scooping and folding again in a very unobtrusive and sanitary manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The several embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of sanitary scoop in folded condition before use;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the outer envelope opened and the scoop partially removed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a scoop upon release from the outer envelope;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 4 showing one fonn of hinged edge for the scoop flaps;

FIG. 5A is a partial cross-sectional view like FIG. 5 to show another form of hinged edge;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the sequential operation of a scoop;

FIG. 8 is a partial view of a modified form of scoop used to illustrate the insertion of the scoop into the outer envelope after use or removal of the scoop from the envelope before use;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the package of FIG. 3 in partially folded condition with the contents shown in broken lines;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the end closure of the envelope folded upon a scoop after use before final compression and locking;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 1 l11 of FIG. 10 to show the function of the collapsible wall as it folds to the broken line position before the envelope is locked;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified form of the outer envelope;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end of a modified form of scoop with locking means therefor;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view to show the interengagement of the lock means shown in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view like FIGS. 5 and 5A to show a modified form of biased hinge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring primarily to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the outer envelope 10 composed of cardboard, plastic, paper, manila paper or the like. The envelope 10 has the two major side walls 12 and 14 joined along the longitudinal fold or hinge line 16. The other longitudinal edges of the side walls 12 and 14 are joined along the fold or hinge lines 18 and 20 to the collapsible third wall 22 which comprises two or more foldable walls 24 and 26 which are joined by at least one fold line indicated at 28.

The envelope l0 may optionally be provided with the end closure means 30 and 30a which are affixed to the outer peripheral edge of the side walls 12 and 14 and also to the foldable walls 24 and 26 by the overlapping marginal edges 32 and 32a.

The end closure means 30 and 30A can be formed of a continuous tubular piece, or one or more discontinuous pieces attached in any desired manner to one or both of the ends of the envelope 10. Aluminum foil, polyethylene sheet, paper or the like can be used to form the end closures. Preferably the end closures are of the type of material which is not only waterproof but can be easily crumpled upon itself and readily poked into the open end of the envelope to complete the enclosure and prevent the excrement from falling out. A completely airtight seal is desirable but not necessary since ordinarily an opportunity to dispose of the envelope will ensue.

A fastener 34 comprising a strip of tape having an inner surface of a pressure sensitive adhesive extends from the wall 12 to the wall 14 holding the assembly shown in FIG. 1 in a comparatively flat configuration. This view can also illustrate the condition of the parts after use.

The tape 34 is long enough to span the space between the walls 24 and 26 in their collapsed condition and includes sufficient overlapping portions, as indicated at 36 to also span the collapsed envelope when it surrounds its contents after completion of the excrementgathering operation. The sides 12 and 14 are generally rectangular and can have substantially identical transverse and longitudinal dimensions, which of course will conform with the folding wall 22. The width of the walls 12 and 14 may or may not be the same as the extended width of the folding or collapsible wall 22.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the scoop 40 comprising in this instance the four rectangular flap members 42, 44, 46 and 48 joined to each other along the fold or hinge lines 50, 50a and 50b. The flaps 42 and 48 are of lesser width than the flaps 44 and 46 so as to be inwardly foldable such that their respective outer edges 52 and 54 extend into and along the inner apex 56 and the scoop 40 can be folded into a substantially flat configuration. Optionally, the edge 52 is serrated to provide the spaced teeth 58 therealong. These teeth are better illustrated in FIG. 4. As will be demonstrated, the scoop 40 can be used in any attitude, that is either the flat 42 or the flap 48 can be in a downward position during the actual scooping operation. The edge 54 can also be serrated, if desired.

The walls of the scoop 40 are composed of cardboard, manila paper, plastic or the like and can have a waterproof coating on their inner or outer surfaces as desired. Various plastics, waxes and resinous impregnating materials are available for this purpose and need not be further described. Generally, the structure of the walls of the scoop are more rigidand unyielding than the structure of the envelope 10.

The hinge or fold lines 50, 50a and 50b can be the same of different construction. For example, the scoop 40 can be made of one piece of cardboard and merely folded along these lines into the condition shown. This structure gives a resilience to the folds so that the scoop, upon release from the envelope 10, has a tendency to spring open into about the configuration shown in FIG. 4 (which illustrates a modified form of scoop) for convenience in gripping same over the outside during use. The corners 50, 50a and 50b in FIGS. 2 and 3 are intended to illustrate this kind of fold line.

The longitudinal length of the scoop 40 may be somewhat less than the longitudinal length of the envelope so that the end closures can be crumpled into the end spaces, if desired.

FIG. 4 shows a modified scoop 40a which, as before stated, is the same as the scoop 40 and illustrates it in the release position after removal from the envelope 10, except that the fold lines are formed by means of the plastic or fibre tape members 60 overlapping the inner surface of the flaps along said fold lines to form a hinge. This structure can be formed from a single piece of cardboard, or the like, in several ways, by slitting the outside surface of the single piece along a straight edge so that all but the inner layer or portion of the cardboard is cut. The knife used for this purpose penetrates into the cardboard at a controlled depth and the resiliency of the hinge can be adjusted by the depth and completeness of the cut that is made. An illustration is shown in FIG. 5A where the slit 62 has not penetrated entirely through the cardboard layers leaving inner layer 64 intact along the cut. Accordingly, the walls or flaps 42 and 44 which originally were in the coplanar position as shown by the broken line, now tend to assume the full line position illustrated and resist to various degrees any change or flexing from this position.

Alternatively, the flaps 42, 44, 46 and 48 can be thus I plastic flaps so that they are separate pieces and the tape 60 applied to form the hinge or fold structure 66 shown in FIG. 5. Here again the tape is applied with the flap 44 in the broken line position in relation to the flap 42 so that this same resilience and resistance to change in attitude is imparted to produce an inherent spring action to the scoop. Still a further embodiment is shown in FIG. 15 by forming flaps 42, 44, 46 and 48 in a single molded or laminated piece wherein the plastic is pressed by an edge, that may be heated, to form an elongated indentation 67 along the outside or inside surface at the intended location of the hinge and thus form a living plastic hinge 66a as is commonly known in the art. Alternatively one or more short pieces of elastic or rubber 68 can be glued at spaced points across the outside of the hinge in stretched condition to form the biasing means.

A relative position of the scoop to the hand of the user during use is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The scoop 40b has been altered to incorporate the end closures 30b and 300 which can be of the same material as described in relation to the end closure means 30 and 30a in FIGS. 1 and 2. As is apparent, the lowermost leading edge 54 is positioned against the ground or snow or I pressed into the grass or rug on which the excrement 70 lies, at a point adjacent thereto, and the walls 44 and 46 extend thereover while the end flap 42 is in a position above and beyond the excrement to be pivoted and brought into a scraping action against the ground (with the teeth 58, if used, aiding in extracting the excrement from the grass or any irregularities that may be encountered). This action is brought about by merely squeezing the scoop.

A slight release of the grip, with a pushing action by the thumb of the user, can easily cause the edge 54 to simultaneously slide under the excrement and it is instantly contained. The edge portion 52 of the wall or flap 42 eventually slides along the inner surface of the wall or flap 48 until it reaches the fold line or hinge 50b to assume the triangular relationship shown in FIG. 9. In this position the scoop can be raised, the end closures, if used, bent and crumpled into the end openings and the excrement disposed of as desired.

The envelope 10 is available to further enclose the scoop and its contents which in this instance would not require the end closures 30 and 30a, although the provision of such double enclosure of the ends of the completed package is not excluded as part of this invention. Likewise, the end closure means can be provided at one end of the envelope 10 and one end of the scoop 40 or 40b so that containment is assured in one attitude of each. In this embodiment the enclosed end of the scoop would be inserted into and adjacent the end of the en-. velope not having an end closure 30. Both parts thus cooperate to enclose the excrement 70 with fewer parts to be manipulated. Depending on the relative volume and consistency of excrement to be captured the scoop FIG. 8 illustrates a further modification of the scoop 400 wherein but three flaps or side walls 42, 44 and 46 are employed and the attainment of a practically flat final package is made possible. This s'coop-iswithout end closures and would be used with an envelope having at least one end closure 30. A final condition of the folded package or envelope 10, with the filled scoop inside, is shown in FIG. 10. Here the end closure 30 has been crumpled across the end of the envelope and the envelope may or may not be further compressed from the condition shown in FIG. 10 to the condition shown in FIG. 2 before the end closures are crumpled and the tab 34 replaced in a tight position.

The tab 34 may or may not be used in the final packaging, particularly if the folding of the scoop is like that shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 illustrates how the scoop 40c can collapse and be placed in the envelope 10, whereby the collapsible wall 22 and the scoop 40 are first in the full line positions and finally in the broken line positions, with the tab 34 thereacross to complete the package.

FIG. 12 merely illustrates an envelope 10a without end closure means wherein a modified collapsible side wall 220 is employed comprising a plurality of accordion pleats 72. Preferably this modified envelope would be used with a scoop having at least one enclosure 30.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 the walls or flaps 42 and 48 of the further modified scoop 40d are provided with the oppositely facing channels 74 and 76, each having channel openings 78 and 80, respectively, therealong adapted to be engaged by the outermost of the side walls in the manner shown in FIG. 14. The outer upstanding wall 82 and the inner upstanding wall 84 of these respective channels can be tapered to provide cooperating inclined planes so that these members slide over each other automatically on closing and do not interfere with such locking.

Furthermore, the folds in the channels are yieldable to inherently provide a camming action as the flaps 42 and 48 or the leading edge of the latter pass in conjunction with one another.

What is claimed is:

l. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop comprising:

a series of four generally planar elongated wall members arranged in contiguous edge-to-edge hinged relationship;

the outermost pair of said wall members being foldable inwardly into juxtaposition between and with their outer edges toward the inner apex of the inner pair of said wall members to form a generally triangular configuration;

the edge hinges of said wall members biasing said pairs from said flat configuration to an arcuate configuration; and

a releasable catch member on the inside surface of said outermost pair of wall members to hold same in juxtaposition;

an open-ended three-sided envelope having opposing side walls hinged along a common edge and having a collapsible connecting wall between the remaining edges;

said envelope defining an inner space to contain said scoop in the folded configuration, said inner space being extendable through said collapsible wall to i along the edges of one of said open e ndsf I said closure member being adapted to be crumpled across said end of-s'aid envelope to-contain said SCQ P- 3. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop adapted to form a flat folded package comprising:

a series of four generally planar elongated wall members;

said wall members being foldable along their contiguous edges thereby defining a central fold line between an intermediate pair of wall members and two remaining fold lines in parallel relationship therewith connecting an endmost pair of wall members;

the intermediate pair of said wall members being foldable by hand pressure along said central fold line to form a gradually diminishing inner apex;

the endmost pair of said wall members being simultaneously foldable by hand pressure along the remaining fold lines toward said inner apex with the outer edge of one of said endmost wall members contacting the inner face of the other of said endmost wall members in a scraping action;

the effective folded width of said endmost pair of said wall members being less than the effective folded width of said intermediate wall members whereby the respective outer edges of said endmost pair of wall members slide into said apex in its closed position with said four wall members defining said folded flat package.

4. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop in accordance with claim 3 including in combination therewith:

an open-ended three sided envelope having a pair of opposing said walls hinged along a common edge and a collapsible connecting third wall between the remaining edges of said pair of side walls;

said opposing side walls and connecting wall defining an inner space to contain said scoop in the folded condition with said opposing side walls overlapping the outer surfaces of said intermediate pair of wall members thereof and with said collapsible wall extending in folded condition between and against the outer surfaces of said wall members to contain said folded flat package.

5. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop in accordance with claim 4 in which said envelope includes:

a pliable closure member affixed along the edges of one of said open ends defined by said opposing side walls and said collpasible connecting wall;

said closure member being adapted to be crumpled across said end and having sufficient body in the crumpled condition to resist said bias of said wall members of said scoop and retain said scoop in a folded flat package.

6. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop in accordance with claim 5 in which said envelope includes:

a second pliable closure member affixed along the edges of the other open end defined by said opposing side walls and said collapsible connecting wall;

said second closure member being adapted to be crumpled across said other end and having sufficient body in the crumpled condition to resist said bias of said wall members of said scoop and retain said scoop in a folded flat package.

8 collapsible connecting wall in the collapsed position of the latter retaining said scoop in the form of a folded flat package before and after use of said scoop. 

1. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop comprising: a series of four generally planar elongated wall members arranged in contiguous edge-to-edge hinged relationship; the outermost pair of said wall members being foldable inwardly into juxtaposition between and with their outer edges toward the inner apex of the inner pair of said wall members to form a generally triangular configuration; the edge hinges of said wall members biasing said pairs from said flat configuration to an arcuate configuration; and a releasable catch member on the inside surface of said outermost pair of wall members to hold same in juxtaposition; an open-ended three-sided envelope having opposing side walls hinged along a common edge and having a collapsible connecting wall between the remaining edges; said envelope defining an inner space to contain said scoop in the folded configuration, said inner space being extendable through said collapsible wall to contain said scoop in its re-folded condition.
 2. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop in accordance with claim 1 in which said envelope includes: a pliable closure member affixed along the edges of one of said open ends; said closure member being adapted to be crumpled across said end of said envelope to contain said scoop.
 3. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop adapted to form a flat folded package comprising: a series of four generally planar elongated wall members; said wall members being foldable along their contiguous edges thereby defining a central fold line between an intermediate pair of wall members and two remaining fold lines in parallel relationship therewith connecting an endmost pair of wall members; the intermediate pair of said wall members being foldable by hand pressure along said central fold line to form a gradually diminishing inner apex; the endmost pair of said wall members being simultaneously foldable by hand pressure along the remaining fold lines toward said inner apex with the outer edge of one of said endmost wall members contacting the inner face of the other of said endmost wall members in a scraping action; the effective folded width of said endmost pair of said wall members being less than the effective folded width of said intermediate wall members whereby the respective outer edges of said endmost pair of wall Members slide into said apex in its closed position with said four wall members defining said folded flat package.
 4. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop in accordance with claim 3 including in combination therewith: an open-ended three sided envelope having a pair of opposing said walls hinged along a common edge and a collapsible connecting third wall between the remaining edges of said pair of side walls; said opposing side walls and connecting wall defining an inner space to contain said scoop in the folded condition with said opposing side walls overlapping the outer surfaces of said intermediate pair of wall members thereof and with said collapsible wall extending in folded condition between and against the outer surfaces of said wall members to contain said folded flat package.
 5. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop in accordance with claim 4 in which said envelope includes: a pliable closure member affixed along the edges of one of said open ends defined by said opposing side walls and said collpasible connecting wall; said closure member being adapted to be crumpled across said end and having sufficient body in the crumpled condition to resist said bias of said wall members of said scoop and retain said scoop in a folded flat package.
 6. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop in accordance with claim 5 in which said envelope includes: a second pliable closure member affixed along the edges of the other open end defined by said opposing side walls and said collapsible connecting wall; said second closure member being adapted to be crumpled across said other end and having sufficient body in the crumpled condition to resist said bias of said wall members of said scoop and retain said scoop in a folded flat package.
 7. A disposable hand-operated waste material scoop in accordance with claim 4 in which said envelope includes: a releasable catch member attachable across the outer surfaces of said opposing side walls and said collapsible connecting wall in the collapsed position of the latter retaining said scoop in the form of a folded flat package before and after use of said scoop. 